In some cases, National Guard units are activated, but simply waiting to be deployed, because there is no Federal funding to get them there.

The best way to help, and the way I will be helping for my part, is by giving to the American Red Cross, and by giving them the things on their list that are most needed. As I write this, they are looking for the following items:

Bottled water (liter or larger)

Nonperishable food

Clothing (new or like-new condition)

Infant supplies (formula, diapers, etc.)

Snacks/protein bars

First aid kits

Transistor radios

Batteries (AA, C, D, 9V)

Flashlights

Hygiene products (bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.)

Dog/cat food

If you live in Vermont, as I do, you can bring these items to the following locations:

BENNINGTON: Town Clerk’s Office

DERBY: State police barracks

HARTFORD: Fire and police departments

MONTPELIER: Statehouse

ST. ALBANS: Collins Perley Recreation Facility

ST. JOHNSBURY: Municipal Office Building and Fire Station

ROCKINGHAM: State police barracks

RUTLAND: State police barracks

VERGENNES: Vergennes High School

WILLISTON: State police barracks

Or, if you would like to make a donation of money to the Red Cross, you can click here to do so.

Christian radical Pat Robertson provoked outrage last week when he called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo ChÃ¡vez. The Bush administration, who seems to have close ties with Robertson has since been trying to distance itself from the TV evangelist by playing down the statement but has thus far, failed to renounce it publicly.

This lack of action by the US Federal government has prompted calls from Mr. ChÃ¡vez for the extradition of Robertson to Venezuela, where he would be tried as a terrorist. The Rev. Jesse Jackson offered support for the for Venezuelan President on Sunday, saying a recent call for his assassination was a criminal act.

ChÃ¡vez said:

His government would take legal action against Pat Robertson, stressing that “to call for the assassination of a head of state is an act of terrorism.”

Robertson is known for throwing out corrosive, Christian fundamentalist propoganda. For instance, in 2003, he earned the disdain of the State Department after suggesting:

“Maybe we need a very small nuke thrown off … to shake things up” in US diplomacy.

In 2001, as America reeled from the September 11 attacks, Robertson got into trouble after agreeing with comments by Christian right sidekick Jerry Falwell that

Earlier this year, he angrily commented on the ABC News “This Week” show.:

“I think the gradual erosion of the consensus that’s held our country together is probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings”

Personally, I believe that he should be extradited. This is clearly a person that is out of control, and so blinded by the irrationalities of the religious right that he is beyond the sway of reasoned argument.

I’m also excited to see how Bush dances around this fire. Given his clear ties with Robertson, I have no doubt that he will be reluctant to act, however, should ChÃ¡vez Formally seek extradition, Bushâ€™s hand will be forced, and he will have to either defend Robertson or renounce him. Given Bushâ€™s past allegiance to the Bin Laden family despite Osamaâ€™s acts of terrorism against the US, I have every reason to believe Bush will go to the end of the Earth to defend Robertson.

I got this e-mail from Jim Dean at Democracy For America this morning, and while I usually hate to just republish content, I think this one is worth putting out there for more to see.

Not only has Robertson called for the assassination of the president of Venezuela, he has repeatedly prayed for vacancies in the Supreme Court, which pretty much amounts to him praying for the death of our most respected judges, since they are appointed for life terms. It looks like this guy is looking to start a neo-conservative crusade of Christian fundamentalists.

As far as I can tell, Pat Robertson is a terrorist!

From DFA:

The Bible tells us “thou shall not kill.” And we consider it a key value to live by. It’s a shame that Rev. Pat Robertson, self-appointed leader of America’s so-called Christian right, does not.

Robertson’s fatwah, calling for the assassination of the president of Venezuela — in the name of keeping access to a “huge pool of oil,” among other excuses — exposed the warped values of many religious radicals with the ear of the president of the United States.

From efforts to squelch the teaching of sound science in our schools, to the “Justice Sunday” rallies trying to impose religion on the courts, to the quixotic jihad against SpongeBob SquarePants, fundamentalist power grabs make the news and have a huge impact.

But they don’t have the teachings of any religion we know of — and they don’t have us. That’s why we’re sending Robertson a message: “Thou shall not kill.” Join your voice with ours, and we’ll print your name in Robertson’s local daily newspaper:

Even Donald Rumsfeld — a man we hardly ever agree with — had the sense to play down the statement. “Certainly it’s against the law,” he told the press. “Our department doesn’t do that type of thing.”

But this calls for more than an offhand comment, because the allegiance that Republicans owe to Robertson and his Christian Coalition allies lets them influence the Bush agenda. Bush and company need to condemn Robertson’s outrageous statement.

Rather than wait on the White House though, we’ll set an example: we’ll reject Robertson ourselves. Join Americans across the land in telling Robertson it’s time he learned to love his neighbor as himself:

Your feedback — and your name — will go into an ad in the Virginian-Pilot, the Norfolk area’s leading newspaper. We’ll put you on record with thousands of Americans rightly — and righteously — angry that Robertson keeps twisting our values to serve his petty political agenda.

“I don’t want to listen to the fundamentalist preachers anymore,” Howard Dean once told us. We don’t have to.